England vs Slovakia Prediction: Southgate is expected to approach this game with changed tactics

In the knockout phase of the 2024 Euro competition, England and Slovakia will battle it out at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen. In the group stage encounters, both sides could only pick just one win and will now have to step up their game here. Which side makes it to the quarter final stage?

The English team was one of the favorite sides to win this Euro 2024 before it started this month, but then, there have been a lot of questions on how long this side could go in this tournament. Boasting a robust, talented squad, many people have confidence in Gareth Southgate’s golden generation team to turn up in matches and deliver quality performances for their fans and football lovers. 

However, despite opening their Euro campaign with a 0-1 win over Serbia, a game where Jude Bellingham scored just 13 minutes into the game through a Bukayo Saka’s cross, we then witnessed a more defensive English team for the rest of the game. However, things did not go well for this side in their second group game against Denmark, but they did well to take the lead through Harry Kane's early goal but then saw the scores leveled just 16 minutes later. However, this team failed to find the back of the net in their final group game against Slovenia, settling for a goalless draw, extending their total points in Group C to five, good enough to see them finish top of the standings. 

Yet, the pre-match facts show that England is one of the sides that have the fewest goal contributions, scoring just two goals in three games. However, this team has the most wins in the fixture, winning five times in the six different encounters against Slovakia.

Slovakia had a decent performance in the Euro 2024, and we witnessed a decent side in the group stage encounters. In the qualification encounter, Slovakia finished 2nd spot behind Portugal, pulling off 22 points from a possible 30. 

However, their pre-Euro warm-up matches saw this team lose to Austria in a 0-2 encounter, conceding in each half of that encounter. In the meantime, subsequent encounters saw Slovakia defeat Wales and San Marino while they drew Norway 1-1. 

In this Euro, Slovakia started their campaign with a win over Belgium, thanks to an early Ivan Shcranz 7-minute strike. Yet, Slovakia could not pick a point against Belgium, seeing their first lead turned to a defeat with two second-half goals from Ukraine. However, Slovakia did well to book a spot in this knockout stage, thanks to a 1-1 draw, which saw them finish third place with four points in Group E.

Pre-match facts show that Euro 2024 marks just the third time in Slovakian history that the side has reached the knockout stages of a major tournament, having previously qualified for the Round of 16 in World Cup 2010 and Euro 2016.

England Possible Starting Lineup:

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Slovakia Possible Starting Lineup:

Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Bozenik, Haraslin

This should be an England job looking at the quality this side has in their squad. Slovakia was not too exceptional in their group-stage encounters, but we have seen what this team could do against a tough top side after they stunned Belgium in their opener.

However, having not impressed in all of their group stage encounters, more is expected from this England side especially with many questions having been raised on their approach in the final third. Yet, with a different starting lineup expected from Gareth Southgate, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Kobbie Maino expected to provide the balance, I think this side has what it takes to win. 

Also, while I believe that Slovakia will focus on defensive play, I do not see them finding the back of the net, with England’s backline also being impressive, with just one goal conceded so far, compared to Slovakia’s three. Take England to win each half of this game, with a scoreline of 2-0 expected to be perfect for this game.